Improvement in treadles for sewing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

CARL Kinn, oENEw YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREADLES FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 81,379, dated August 25, 1868l To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, CARL KIHN, of the city and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Trcadle for Sewing- Machines, of which the following specification, in connection with the accompanying drawings, gives a full and clear description.

One feature of my treadle consists in its being so constructed as to insulate the foot, in an electrical sense.

It has become a belief with a considerable number of habitual operators on sewingmachines, from symptoms they experience, that in certain states of the weather, and under certain conditions of dress, state of health, or location of the machine, they receive electrical shocks or twitchings in the actuating-limb; and whether this be the cause of their symptoms or not, if they even imagine themselves protectedfrom the asserted canse of their symptoms, it is conducive to their comfort and relief, for the effect of imagination upon the human system, either as preventive y or cure, is well known, and that portion of the public referred to is entitled to the doubt; but I hold, and will endeavor to explain, that there is foundation for their belief.

It is well knownthat in all cases of friction electricity is developed, whether dissipated or not, 'and such is the case with the sewingmachine. If the operator were insulated, then a current would not be established through the person 5 but the reverse of this is generally the case. s

Electricity developed under such circumstances, however triiiin g in quantity or intensity, would travel downward along the shaft, and thence throughthe naturally moist shoe and limb of the operator, and bedissipated by the evaporation from the moist body and dress of the latter, both also presenting so great a surface to the air, while the feet cf the machine may be resting on a dry carpet, for instance, and, moreover, do not perspire, and it is well known that during evaporation electricity is carried oii'. It is therefore not unreasonable to assume that the actuatinglimb becomes a conductor, to prevent which I make the face of my treadle of non-conducting material, viz., of glass, but should here state that I am not positive that this idea is entirely new; but in any case I believe that I have applied it in a most advantageous manner for use.

Another feature of my device is that it can be at once applied to the shaft of a sewingmachine without the aid of an expert, and also that it can be adj usted laterally and instantly on the shaft by a simple movement of the foot while at work, according to the convenience of the given operator.

For further explanation I will now refer to the drawing, of which Figure l is a plan view of my treadle 5 Fig. 2, an end view, and Fig. 3 alongitudinal section.

Like letters of reference in the differenti figures indicate like parts.

The plate of glass A, on which the feet rest, is held in cast angle-iron frame B', of considerably less vertical depth than equals the thickness of A, so that the foot may not come in contact with the former. To prevent the slipping of the foot the-surface of A is roughened and also scored, as shown. (See Fig. l.)

To allow change of position laterally of the treadle, it is not attached to the shaft, and to permit its ready adjustment to the latter, it has on either side a pair of open springclutches, C, Figs. 2 and 3, to be pressed over and grasped around the shaft, giving all necessary hold, as there is little or no tendency of the treadle to come oif.

By means of the small loop-standard D on the toe-part of frame B, the usual connectingrod from the machine is attached, and the treadle ready for action.

There may be set-screws through the sides of B and pinching upon A, to hold it in place, or it may be cemented in; likewise, there could 4be a screw (indicated in Fig. 3,) transiixing the ends of C, to draw the latter as closely to the shaft as may be suitable.

Having now fully described the nature of my device, I claim- Ihe sewing-machine treadle, composed of a plate, A, of roughened glass, supported in and elevated above the frame B, carrying a standard, D, or its equivalent, and the open clutches C, the whole being constructed, applied, and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

CARL RIEN.

Witnesses:

AUGUST MLLLER, THEoDoRE MILLER. 

